Napkin-supporter



(No Model.)

P. W. 000K.

NAPKIN SUPPORTER.

"No .382,69 1. PatentedMay15.1'888-.

WITNESSES: l/VI/E/VTOR;

v Z-zwam v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. COOK, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS.

NAPKlN-SUPPO'RTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. asaeoihateo May 15, 1888.

Application filed August 2, 1887. Serial No. 245,939. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that'I, FREDERICK W. COOK, a citizen of the United States; residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Napkin-Supporters, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple inexpensive device for retaining napkins before a person while eating, the same being adapted to embrace the edge of the table and being removable therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view of a portion of a table provided with my holding device, a napkin being in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the supports; and Figs. 3 and 4 are a perspective and side elevation, respectively, of modifications hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

In practicing my invention I may form the support either wholly of wire, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, or partly of wood or any other suitable material and partly of wire, as indicated in Figs. and 2..

Referring more particularly to the two lastmentioned figures, A represents jaws, in this instance of wood, and consisting of wooden blocks formed with the cut-out portion or grooves A, which are adapted to receive the edge of the table X, and of a size sufficient to allow ready application to and removal from the same.

Passing through the closed end of the block A, as at B, is a wire supporting-arm, B,which is bent upwardly in this instance, to form within the groove A of the block a curved spring-tongue, B the wire supporting-armenters the block A the former is bent upwardly and provided at its upper end with a coil or other napkin-retaining holding device, B, into which the corner of thenapkin Y is introduced. Any form of coil, or, it may be, other means, may be pro vided at the upper end, the requisite being Beyond the point where that it be so constructed as to permit of the ready removal and introduction of the napkin. In the present instance two of the supporting devices are employed for each map kin-one at each end of the napkinand connected to each of the two upper corners thereof, so that the napkin,when in position, is supported in front of the person, so as to cover the clothes, while the end may be spread over the table.

To apply the supports to the table, the openingvA of the block is brought opposite the edge of the table, and by a slight pressure forward the springtongue B yields and the block is clamped thereby. I

It'is of course understood that two of the devices described are employed, one at each side of the napkin.

By the extreme elasticity of the spring no marring of the table can occur. In order to retain the supporting-arm B in relative position with the block A, a staple or eye, B is passed over the arm and driven into the closed end of the block.

In Figs. 3 and 4. I have shown modified forms of my invention. In the former construction the support is formed wholly of wire, and the Wire arms B1 are continued and bent upon themselves to form embracing-jaws A, which are resilient, and after the formation of said jaw at one side of the support the wire is bent to form a connectingbar, A*, the wire being further continued and bent to form opposite jaws and support similar to those just described. In this construction the block A and spring B are omitted.

In'Fig. 4, which is a side elevation of a single arm or support, I employ the block A, but pivot the lower end of the arm B, as at B", so thatjthe arm may-be swung thereupon and folded down at the side thereof. The lower extremity of the arm B is coiled around its pivot and terminates in an extension or tail, B, which comes in contact with a stop, B whereby a backward movement is prevented. This form of support, like the form shown in Fig. 1, is intended to be used in pairs, one at each side of a napkin.

In order that a person using the napkinholder may bend over the table wheneating, I preferably form the arms B of resilient wire or. other yielding material, so that they will too give when any weight of the body is brought to bear against them.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The napkin -support herein described, comprising napkin-supporting arms provided with table-embracing portions at their lower ends, substantially as specified.

2. The napkin support herein described, comprising napkin-supporting arms provided with napkin-retaining devices at their upper ends and table-embracing portions at their lower ends, substantially as specified.

3. A napkinholder comprising napkinsupporting arms formed of wire, having at their lower ends wooden clamps bifurcated or grooved to receive the end of a table, substan tially as specified.

4. A napkin-holder comprising a springarm having a napkin-retaining coil at its up- 20 per end and a bifurcated table-clamping block at its lower end, said arm passing through said block and bent to form a spring-tongue, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the blocks A, grooved 2 5 as at A, with the arms B, coiled as at B, connected to the blocks, as at B B, and bent to form the springtongue B substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in 0 presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK W. COOK.

\Vitnesses:

J. E. RODINE, W. W. HAILEY. 

